Pinot noir and Chardonnay are my favorite varietals. Their subtle elegance and ability to communicate the specifics of the terror in the finished wine is truly amazing.
— Cory Michal
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The best thing about being a small winery is that you are connected to every grape you harvest and every single drop of wine you produce. For most small wineries making wine is a lot more than just a business, it’s about a shared love of wine with our buyers. Most people who buy from small wineries have a true passion for wine and an appreciation for small-lot winemaking. — Atsmon Shahar
Read More“Through the necessary rose-tinted glasses of a small business owner. The consolidation of the distribution market has made wine sales increasingly cutthroat and competitive, hindering the smaller producers, while at the same time the market demand for artisanal products has risen dramatically, giving the local winemaker spotlight and attention. As long as consumers continue to demand wines with soul and stories, there will always be a place for the independent small-lot winemaker.”
–Taylor Bodstun
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The inspiration is to create a modern concept of sparkling wine from California, one that is not limited by tradition or the brands that have come before. — Dan Person
Read More“The vineyard is located on the land of Pomo natives and we choose a Pomo name to honor the history of the place, Powicana or red clay earth. The label illustration is a rendering of a view of the vineyard.”
– Zoubeida Zajac
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By "taming" these grapes through the act of sustainable viticulture and thoughtful winemaking, we take something that at first might be a bit too rough and wild, and guide it into being an approachable, elegant expression of a small patch of mother earth. — Robert Pintacsi
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My favorite is Pinot Noir, because each vineyard I source from is very different and that expresses itself in each wine. — Rick Davis
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I do everything myself. Every decision and mistake is mine to own. I can experiment creatively, take bigger risks and not have to worry about reporting to anyone but myself. — Alison Thomson
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Small lot winemakers have the opportunity to craft unique wines that speak to people in an authentic way that big brands try to mimic with marketing, but can’t. Passion and enthusiasm come through loud and clear when small winemakers talk and customers feel it. — Patrick Kelley
Read More“ My favorite is Tempranillo. The wines are dark, full of tannins, and surprisingly acidic. When young they are fresh and fruity yet when aged have connotations of tobacco and leather. It’s great for blending. It’s very versatile variety and it ripens early!”
– Mark Welch
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“Cab Sauv is my fave as it's the wine that inspired me to start my own label.” — Dusty Nabor
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My Favorite wine to make is Syrah. I love the heady aromatics, black and blue fruit flavors along with the tannic balance derived from the fruit. — Richard Krumwiede
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To paraphrase Forest Gump, pinot noir is the box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. I like working with the same vineyard over several years to learn what changes and what stays the same. — Phillip Kaplan
Read More“Volatus means flight in Latin. My background is not wine but as a Navy pilot. I flew FA-18 Hornets and Super Hornets for the Navy and served two tours as a TOPGUN Instructor. When I started the wine label I wanted something aviation related but not immediately apparent. Over the years we have made the Volatus label more and more about aviation and flight and the branding works very well.”
– Hal Schmitt
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When you are so small you see so much support from all your friends and family. It truly has been shocking to see all the people coming out to help! From a production point of view I love the freedom I have to do whatever I want. That could just be because I am my own boss though.
— Maura Christoffers
Read MoreThe Garagiste Festival is different from other wine festivals. Here are eight things you may not know about us...
No other wine event lets you taste this many varietals and styles all under one roof.
Most other wine events focus on a single region or certain varietal (Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Rhones, etc.), but not The Garagiste Festival. This is the widest range of wines available in one place anywhere, including Pinot Noir, Cabernet and anything else you can think of and from all over California - Paso Robles, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Mendocino, and more….
I believe that the world’s greatest wines are defined by place as opposed to winemaking manipulation.
— Eric Johnson
Read More“At Monochrome, we are focused exclusively on white wines. In 2016, we worked with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, and Albarino. In 2017, we are planning to add Chenin Blanc to that list. We have enjoyed working will all those varieties, and don’t really have a favorite yet. In 2016, the Chardonnay was probably the most fun, as we broke it up into a lot of very small components, and took different approaches with each of them.”
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“Patience is a necessity and your patience will be tested. The balance of working with what mother nature hands you and knowing when to allow mother nature to work.” — Joe White
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